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E. H. HAMILTON.

- WALL TABLE.

N( 508 938. Patented Nov; 21, 1893.

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Aura/Jar Q v (Z/firneyr UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

EDDIE H. HAMILTON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

WALL-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,938, dated November 21, 1893.

Application filed April 26, 1892.

railroad car or dwelling when not in use, and

adapted to be drawn out therefrom for use.

One-object of my invention is to provide a table of the character set forth in which the supporting legs will be automatically forced downward into the position to support the table by the drawing of the table outward for i use and automatically raised to their position beneath and parallel with the table top by the forcing of the table inward into the inclosure.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means for strengthening the 7 table top by assuming the weight of the top and the articles supported thereon, thereby lessening the strain on the flexible backing.

To these ends the invention consists in certain peculiarities in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts substantially as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the, invention-Figure 1 is a sectional view of a 7 part of a car-body, showing a receptacleformed in the side wall thereof for my improved table, the latter being drawn out for use. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of my improved table. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section through at a: of

Fig. 2 and shows in full lines the position of the parts when the leg is in its vertical posi- V 'tion, and in dotted lines the position of the receptacle A for the table B when the latter .the table.

the-table, whereby the leg will be raised when Serisl N... 430,689. (No model.)

is not in use and has at each end of said receptacle a standard or posta. These standards or posts a are grooved as shown at a to receive the edges of and form ways for the table. An opening a'-- is formed in the wall Athrough which the table B extends when drawn out for-use, said opening being entire] y closed by the front portion B of the table when the latter is inclosed within the receptacle. The slats O of the table B are connected by the flexible backing D and are each provided on each end with a plate E, which has at one end a recess formed with a curved wall e and a pin E projecting horizontally from the inner wall of the recess, and at its opposite end a rigidhook E adapted to' engage the pin E of the next adjacent slat. By this means the weight of the slats and of the articles supported thereon is borne by the hooks and pins 1 instead of by the flexible backing.

F, F designate the table legs, which are located one at each corner of the outer end of Each of these legs is pivoted at one cornerof its upper end to the lower end of a casting Gthe upper end of which passes through a slot h formed in a transverse plate H which is so located with. respect to the under side of the table top (to which it is secured) as to provide a space between it and said table top, within which space is located a projection g on the extremeupper end of the casting, whereby the casting withits attached leg, is held from vertical displacement. Each of the legs Fhas an inclined longitudt nal slot f formed at its upper end with a transversely extending portion f, said slot receiving a pin g projecting from the front B of the castingis forced from the inner to the outer end of the slot 71. and lowered when the casting is forced in the opposite direction.

I designates a system of diagonal levers which serve to automatically lower the legs as the table is pulled out for use andjautomatically raise the legs as-thetable is pushed in out of the way. The inner members I of these levers are, pivoted at their rear ends to projections extending from collars J loosely encircling an immovable transverse rod K, and at th eir centers they are pivoted together, while their outer members I are pivoted at their forward ends tothe upper portions of rco the castings G, at their centers to each other and at their rear ends to the forward ends of the inner members I. A series of longitudinal jointed levers L, L, are pivoted to the sides, at the center and each end, of the system of levers and serve to brace said system of levers by keeping the members thereof in their extended position when the table is drawn out for use. It will be seen on reference to Fig. 2 that the jointed levers L are of greater length than the space between the ends of the levers I, which they join, and that therefore said levers L are never straight from end to end. I prefer this construction as it obviates the necessity 0f-the operator touching said bracing levers L in order to permit folding of the table.

The operation of my invention is as follows: As the table is being drawn out, the system of levers is extended, thus forcing the casting G from the outer to the inner ends of the slots h in the plates H and the pins g engaging the inclined slots in the legs secured to the castings exert in connection with said castings a pressure on the legs which will cause them to turn on their pivots and assume a vertical position. When further immediate use of the table is not desired it is forced inward, after first pressing the lovers L inward slightly at their joints and the reverse of the above operation takes place; that is to say, the system of levers is folded and draws on the castings which move to the outer ends of the slots in the plates and in their movement together with the pins g cause said legs to rise to their horizontal position which position they reach at a period which will permit them to pass through the opening a" and thus not obstruct the passage of the table into the receptacle. When the table is drawn out into position for use the forward jointed levers L are straight from end to end, thus absolutely preventing accidental folding of the system of levers, the legs being thus kept immovable in one direction, while accidental movement of the legs in the opposite direction is prevented by a shoulder g" in each casting engaging a side of the leg. A strip M within the receptacle A anda projection M on the inner end of the table top adapted to engage said strip, prevent the table from being drawn out too far.

As the table is preferably of considerably greater length than height and it is not desirable or practical to cut through the floor of the car into the floor-beam, it is necessary that the table top should be folded within the receptacle and to this end the ways in the receptacle for the table are extended from the bottom of the vertical portion around and up a short distance as shown in Fig. 1; but

which will be entirely automatic as regards the raising and lowering of the table legs;

. which is perfectly braced in every direction when opened, so that accidental folding thereof is impossible; and also one in which the weight of the slats and of the articles supported thereby is not borne by the flexible backing which is too weak to withstand much weight for any length of time without being injured.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a folding wall-table, the combination with the folding top, a stationary transverse rod, and collars, loosely encircling said rod, of a system of levers pivoted at their rear ends to said collars, legs or supports for the forward end of said table, and a connection, movable transversely of the table, to which the upper ends of said legs or supports and the forward ends of said system of levers are pivoted, substantially as described,whereby said system of levers acting upon said con nection will cause said legs to assume a vertical position as the table is drawn out and .to be raised to horizontal position as the table is forced inward, as specified.

' 2. The herein described folding table top, consisting of a series of slats, a flexible backing connecting said slats and allowing the same to fold and a strengthening means consisting of a plate secured to each end of each slat, each of said plates having at one end a recess formed with a curved wall and a pin projecting horizontally from the inner wall of said recess, and at its opposite end a rigid hook, said hook engaging the pin of the next adjacent plate as described.

3. In a folding wall-table the combination of the folding top having pins at its forward end, castings connected to said top and transversely movable with respect thereto, a leg pivoted at its upper corner to each of said castings and having an inclined slot engaged by one of said pins, a system of folding levers engaging said castings at one end, and transversely movable collars engaged by opposite ends of said system of levers.

4:. In a folding wall-table, the combination of the folding top, having pins at its forward end, castings connected to said top and transversely movable with respect thereto, a leg pivoted at its upper corner to each of said castings and having an inclined slot engaged by one of said pins, a system of folding levers engaging said castings at one end and transversely movable collars engaged by the opposite end of said levers, and jointed bracing-levers pivoted to the sides of said system of levers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' EDDIE Il. HAMILTON.

Witnesses:

OHAs. J. STooKMAN, ARMAT STODDART. 

